nui (c.1230)

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nui (c.1230)

[ gdw]

[ FEW: *4,702b inodiare; Gdf: ; GdfC: ; TL: ; DEAF: ; DMF:  nuie; TLF: ; OED:  noy n.1; MED:  noi n.; DMLBS: ]
nouy,  nuy,  nuye  

The word is an aphetic form of ennui, derived from Latin in odio. This omission of the first syllable only seems to have happened in Anglo-Norman, and consequently in English. In addition, the formation and/or senses of the word may have been influenced by nuisir (which is derived from Latin nocere).

s.

1annoyance, (source of) vexation
( c.1240; MS: c.1300 )  Le ben tuz jurs en nui  (ed. ennui) lur (=for those who are attached to worldly things) turne  5.9
( 1408; MS: s.xv1 )  le susdit Maistre Yon disoit que y fu une clause en voz dites lettres qu'il n'entendist pas, mes il vouldroit parler ovec vous en haste et savoir vostre entent, lequelle repons nous sembloit bien nuy  49.15
tedium, boredom
( c.1230; MS: s.xiiim )  Suvent ennue beau chanter. Pur ceo mun cunte voil terminer, Que nuls ne nust mun lung parler. Nel di pur ceo que seit fini Cest miracle, que avez oi, Ainz l'ai pur ceo en dous parti Pur le[s] enuis (var. (W: s.xivin) Pur les nuys), dunt jo vus di  1112 (var.)
( 1354; MS: c.1360 )  il purroit ennuyer a ascuns qe ceo livret aprés verront qe jeo trop me tenisse sur un matire [...] mes de ceo soit com estre poet de la nuye (var. (C: s.xivex) la nouy) des autres, mesqe vous, tresdouz Sires [...] soietz apaietz  90
ennoier  ennui  nuiable  nuiance  nuier  nuius 
This is an AND2 Phase 4 (N-O/U-P-Q) entry. © 2013-17 The Anglo-Norman Dictionary. All rights reserved. Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council of the United Kingdom.
nui